Danny Farber on Vertical Filmmaking, Platform Strategy, and the Future of Storytelling

Danny Farber on Vertical Filmmaking, Platform Strategy, and the Future of Storytelling Danny Farber joins Drinking During Business Hours for a smart, energetic conversation about what it really takes to build a creative career across directing, acting, producing, and modern platform-driven storytelling. Sarah and Rich dig into Danny's rise in vertical filmmaking, his approach to respecting the platform, and why story, pacing, and audience behavior matter just as much as traditional craft. The episode also explores the balance between art and commerce, the realities of international production, and why authenticity and relationships still drive the industry forward.  As an actor, Danny has appeared in 1923, Chicago Fire, Proven Innocent, national campaigns for Chase, Home Depot, and Subway, and comedy/digital outlets including Funny or Die, Cracked, and The Onion. He trained at Second City, The Groundlings, UCB, and iO Chicago. If you're interested in vertical filmmaking, directing, acting, film production, networking, storytelling, or platform strategy, this episode is packed with useful insight from someone actively shaping the space. Guest Info: Danny Farber Danny Farber is a Chicago-born director, actor, writer, and producer based in Los Angeles. His work spans vertical dramas, music videos, commercials, branded content, and narrative film, and his projects have generated tens of millions of views across social platforms. Since 2023, he has directed more than twenty feature-length vertical dramas for platforms including ReelShort, Dramabox, Goodshort, Dramapops, and KalosTV, with productions in Los Angeles, Istanbul, London, and Vancouver. He also wrote, directed, and starred in the award-winning short film "Thoughts and Prayers," executive produced by Amy Poehler. Guest Social Links Danny Farber Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sirdannyfarber/ Website: https://www.sirdannyfarber.com/ Pretty Awesome Productions: https://www.sirdannyfarber.com/shop Thoughts and Prayers: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8uo4EOPz5v/ Drink of the Podcast This episode features two wines on the table: a 2022 Shafer TD-9 Napa Cabernet and La Fiorita Brunello. In the conversation, the hosts describe the Shafer TD-9 as iconic with a phenomenal nose and palate, and later shift from Cab to Brunello during the interview. Danny specifically joins them in drinking wine rather than a mocktail.  Chapters 00:00 Welcome back and introduction 02:45 The business of show business 05:37 Meet Danny Farber: director, actor, producer 08:32 Respecting the platform 11:12 The art of vertical storytelling 14:02 Navigating the challenges of production 16:48 Authenticity in performance 19:13 The balance of art and commerce 22:32 International productions and global filmmaking 27:25 Building relationships in the industry 32:08 The evolution of directing and storytelling 37:43 Understanding the vertical format 47:07 Leadership, collaboration, and communication on set FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS! Sarah IG @sarahhalstead https://www.instagram.com/sarahhalstead/?hl=en  FB @sarahjhalsteadcomic https://www.facebook.com/sarahjhalsteadcomic/ X @sarahjhalstead  https://twitter.com/sarahjhalstead  Website   @SarahHalstead | sarahjhalstead.com Rich IG @richchassler https://www.instagram.com/richchassler/ FB @chasslerfans https://www.facebook.com/Chasslerfans/ X @richchassler https://x.com/richchassler  Website  richardchassler.com 📧 [email protected] 🎧 Please rate & review the podcast on your favorite platform — it helps more than you know!   Enjoyed the episode? Like, subscribe, and share it with a comic, actor, or podcast fan who'd appreciate a real conversation about stage time, social media, comedy hustle, and taking creative risks. #DannyFarber #VerticalFilmmaking #FilmIndustry #Directing #Acting #Storytelling #PlatformStrategy #CreativeCareers #FilmProduction #Microdrama